Educators from all grade levels—pre-kindergarten through higher education—and Informal Educators are invited to come and share best practices, ideas, and activities with fellow teachers. We encourage you to submit a session proposal to be a presenter at the conference.  

Proposal Options - sessions and workshops will be held on both days of the conference to provide greater flexibility to both presenters and attendees.

• 50 minute sessions

• 1 hour 50 minute workshops

Proposals Due: September 1

Registration Due: September 19

QUESTIONS Contact Program Chair, Dr. Kelly Moore at conference@tnsta.org  

This year's theme is Embracing Innovation with a focus on the following three strands:

Strand 1 (Content/Standards): Build the Base. Sessions should focus on understanding the actual content and intentional teaching of physical, earth & space, life science, engineering, technology, and applications of science (DCIs) and foundational experiences.

Strand 2 (Pedagogy): Design the Experience. Instructional practices that meet the needs of every learner through phenomena, sensemaking, and intentional pedagogy. Sessions should focus on phenomena, student-led investigations, collaboration, design thinking, argumentation (including Claim-Evidence-Reasoning), equitable and inclusive instruction, assessments, simulations, student use of technology, and discrepant events.

Strand 3 (Extensions of Science Learning): Expand the Horizon. Innovate, collaborate, and interact with the world. Sessions should focus on wherever your imagination takes you - computer science, coding, robotics, early post-secondary opportunities, 21st-century careers, PBLs, real-world science experiences, STEM, and school/family/community events.

To be accepted as a presenter, you must:

1. Confirm your proposal and register for the conference as an attendee by September 19, 2026, to avoid cancellation. 

2. Ensure that the session proposal aligns with TSTA's purpose, goals, and proposal criteria (i.e., alignment to conference strands, session time constraints, and attuned to science education professional and ethical standards).

3. Presenters must comply with all of the instructions, guidelines, and deadlines to keep their proposals from being declined. 

TSTA Purpose and Goals

Purpose:

The purpose of this association shall be to support the advancement of science education in Tennessee and encourage the professional growth of its members.

Goals:

The goals of this association shall be:

a) to provide an effective forum for sharing science education ideas;

b) to provide an effective forum for sharing scientific and science education research;

c) to form a collective voice for the science education community;

d) to assist in the dissemination of information related to changes in science education and technology; and

e) to further science literacy.